In the Cairngorm Mountain Scotland Ltd [CMSL] Business Plan that was published on 24 January 2020, the interim CEO wrote the following: Vision: ‘’To become a world class Visitor Destination – Ambitious to succeed’’ On 23 March 2021, CMSL submitted a planning application (see here) to Highland Council for a Campervan Park within the Coire na Ciste car park on Cairngorm. That planning application was called in, for determination, by the CNPA on 12 April. This post takes a look at what campervan owners and other visitors would find there today and questions any ‘world class’ credentials.
As vehicles get closer to the Coire na Ciste car park there are a number of ‘features’ that will catch the eyes of drivers and passengers
That sign has lain like that for over a year. It’s clearly obvious to everyone who drives past. It is also known about because it has been weighted down by rocks. Not exactly ‘world class.’ Surely the CMSL CEO is capable of lifting the phone and asking whoever is responsible to get it repaired and re-erected?
This has been lying against the rusty barriers for years. It’s just before the left turn as you head to the Ciste car park. Everyone who drives past sees it and that includes the CMSL management.
A roadside pole….bent out of shape and the sign has long since disappeared. It too has been like that for years.
Campervan owners and other visitors will then find the following if they stop off in the Coire na Ciste car park.
As previously reported on parkswatch, HIE have allowed 2 planning applications for the demolition and partial reconstruction of this building, to lapse. Public funds were wasted in that process.
The wall is falling apart and there is the potential for safety issues here if children were to climb on it. A busy Campervan park, that has nothing for children to do and is surrounded by health and safety risks, could lead to difficulties.
Following a campaign by activists (see here), sandbags were placed on top of the ring main cable that supplies the power to the West Wall Poma in Coire na Ciste. It’s on the surface in places and the signs say ‘’Danger of death, Keep Off’’ Has anyone ever known children to like to play in sand?
This cable is supposed to be getting reburied this Spring/Summer.
The bridge was broken last summer and has now been closed. No date is given for its repair and return to use. You are requested to find a suitable spot to cross the river if access is required. The reason there’s a bridge here because there isn’t another suitable spot to cross!
The chairs have been gone for a couple of years, at least…but…there has been no attempt made to remove the non-biodegradable rubber.
More waste, which has been lying there for years, as evidenced by the undergrowth all around.
Following the irresponsible destruction of the Coire na Ciste and West Wall Chairlifts in 2017 (see here), the Ciste car park surface, near the Grouse Butt, was left strewn with pieces of shattered metal. Although the failure to clear up that mess was made public, the then operator Natural Retreats did nothing further. It’s more or less as bad today as it was in August 2017.
The CMSL marketing strap line says: ‘’These mountains are not ours……..but they are our responsibility to look after’’ Really?
What should be clear to all is that CMSL’s vision of making the place a World Class Visitor Destination is merely marketing rhetoric designed to pad out the so-called Business Plan it has agreed with Highlands and Islands Enterprise. To achieve that World Class ambition, it might be expected that any new developments would be to that standard. Alas, that is not the case here.
What needs to happen now.
The Board of Directors and the Interim CEO of CMSL need to take decisive action. Responsibility for these failings rests with them and they’ve had over two years now to address the issues. They could all go round to the Ciste car park, roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty by picking up and removing the various detritus. They could also attend to the broken, abandoned and damaged road signage that is evident on the road up. That would go some way to demonstrating that they actually care about the environment and that they take their responsibility to look after these mountains, seriously.
Grouse Butt: arrange repair without further delay.
Ring Main Cable: ensure that Scottish and Southern Energy Networks are onsite soon and the ring main cable is properly buried.
Ciste Building: act on what was planned. i.e. demolish and partly rebuild it. However, 24-hour toilets must also form part of the rebuild. A Campervan Park that doesn’t have toilets/showers can never be considered anything other than third class.
Allt na Ciste Bridge: effect the necessary repairs immediately and publicise a date when it will be reopened.
Waste Water Treatment Plant: arrange for it to be removed and replaced with a new one so that toilets/showers can be incorporated into a rebuilt Ciste building.
What an utter disgrace that this Scottish mountain has been vandalised and left to rot by a Government that is renowned for failure, just another few million wasted, a politician who has completely ignored public opinion and a local government organisaton that is inert and treat the public like mushrooms.
Wonder what they mean by “world class”? Campervans, unlike Motorhomes, generally don’t have a built in toilet/shower – so presumably it means providing a toilet/shower block for a start. They also tend to have quite small leisure batteries so they normally welcome mains hook-up if staying overnight. Finally, fresh water is also required to fill up their tanks. That’s all the basics. What makes it “world class” – normally its the extras, like plenty of space for their chairs, tables, barbecues etc – and a good on-site shop. Sounds like a camp site not a car park, doesn’t it.
What I assume they really mean is “somewhere to park where they can justify charging more, whilst giving nothing in return other than a barrier to make you pay”.
Why on earth are we even contemplating this obscene “development”. With global heating, there can surely be no case for renewing the ski infrastructure at such a low altitude. The snow line is rising, and will continue to do so. The car park will no longer be required, so should be removed. Why on earth publicly subsidise sites for these hideously expensive, environmentally disastrous (in terms of fuel consumption) motorhomes, and campervans. I suppose the owners will just arrive and let their dogs out for a crap, and to chase what is left of the local wildlife. because, of course, no one’s dog ever chases hares or ptarmigan. Accommodation should be in the valley, in already existing communities, not in what should be a transition zone for trees, montane scrub and associated wildlife.
I assume you only ever cycle around the highlands and camp in a tent… otherwise some might accuse you of being a little hypocritical. FYI, just like other forms of powered personal transport, campervans are now appearing on the market that are hybrid or totally electric-powered. You could argue that, compared to permanent/larger holiday homes and “glamping”, campervans actually have very little impact on the environment – or did you just mean you didn’t want anyone in “your own back yard”?
Before this planning application is determined there should be site visits by officials from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and the Health and Safety Executive. Their reports to the CNPA should explain what improvements need to be made to Coire na Ciste before any campervan facility approval is granted. A better alternative, for at least this year, might be to make the vehicle parking areas in Glenmore, which are all under the ownership of Forest and Land Scotland, open for overnight campervan use. The appropriate water supply, waste disposal and toilet facilities should be provided on a 24 hour basis at suitable locations, at least on a temporary basis. All this land has been in public ownership for around 100 years, mostly under the control of the Forestry Commission. It is a national disgrace that successive UK and Scottish Governments have failed, over decades, to instruct their various public agencies to manage it in ways which meet even the most basic of public expectations.
Without the basic infrastructure Scotland will always disappoint those who choose to tour in Camper vans. In New Zealand communities have used this past year to reflect long and hard on the impact this modern way to travel has been having on their way of life. Yet in NZ first class facilities for these touring Nomads are everywhere. Chains of campsites with a variety of levels of accommodation are in place, and so very few places are fenced off just to “fleece” those who choose to stop there overnight. This past year New Zealanders have had a chance to explore this all on their own ( without tourists ! ) an open debate about next steps is underway.
The thing Scotland has yet to appreciate at Government level is how the very presence of touring visitors to outlying communities,in modern camper vans , brings income year round. Small shops and retail outlets and local visitor attractions, all can offer full time jobs for a much longer seasons than ever before each year. Tourist spend can either be freely and contentedly given..taxed through VAT, fuel duties, hire,and repair costs , or it can be demanded, imposed, enforced and compelled. Small-mindedness by land owners and isolated self employed providers with their marginal “profit centres” can kill the joy. The way ‘official’ Scotland treats visitors is “our ” choice. Prohibition signs, locked gates and closed public facilities are so wrong. We elect those who seek to “lead ” us. So, provide these visitors with the facilities they would like to find and they will come and spend, enjoy teh hospitality offered to them and tell their friends. Force them in to uneven lay-byes, muddy field corners, rubble hard standing behind broken down farmsteads, and other places with limited or no facilities and they will move, on and on, and on again, ever hoping to find a better spot to stay; constantly clogging the roads, wasting their time, and further damaging the very thing they hoped to find- the tranquil places – as they go.
What needs to happen over the next 10 days is for us to appoint those really willing to take a new approach to tourism at Holyrood . Ask candidates how they will deliver a top down redirection of emphasis right across this nation. Challenge them about their Vision for adjustments to the planning system and to mechanisms that permit easier access for communities to finance to upgrade local tourism infrastructure. Point out to them how Scotland might at least begin an attempt to match modern European touring standards. or at best.. begin to catch up with the ‘Kiwis’..(of course all of this has been said hundreds of times on Nick’s blog)
Seems to me that chasing the dream of “world class Visitor Destination” in the days of global warming will inevitably lead to further degradation of the mountain as the parties involved chase “sustainability” e.g. the means to make it profitable at all costs. How much time will elapse before we see ideas like zip wired & downhill mountain bike runs appear on the horizon justified to keep CMSL in business & support jobs? IMO we’re on the slippery slope of significant industrial environmental degradation of the mountain & NP.
Well said Tom, Bill